Timing



Nov. 11;1930. c. K. WOODBRHDGE ,7 1,041

TIMING Filed Aug. 21, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY PatentedNov. 11, 1930 UNITED sf'rarss- CHARLES K. WOODBRIIDGE, or rnusrrrne, newYORK, essrenon TO mower-noun coitearner orricn PORATION, BRIDGEPO B-T,CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF YORK TIMING Application filed August 21,1923. Serial No. 658,597.

This invention relates to improvements in methods and apparatus forproducing a. series of timed, audible or visible signals, as forpurposes of rhythm.

One object of this invention is to utilize a sound-reproducing machinefor this purpose.

Another object is to produce a regular succession of audible or visiblesounds for marking time. 7

.Another object is to utilize a commercial phonograph, to produceaudible or other signals, to aid in teaching the art of typewriting byinculcating students with the rhythm'of finger action, which isconducive to speed and uniformity of touch.

Another object is to provide a convenient means or method for varyingthe timing of such signals.

Another object is to provide a simple, inexpensive an d fool-proofdevice for attachment to a phonograph, permitting the available governedmovement of the rotating part to cause or directly produce such signalsas an incident to its rotation. J

Other objects and advantages willhereinafter appear. i

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a dictation machine (here shown as a transcribing machine). partially broken away, andshowing an embodiment of the present invention attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the invention in operative position onthe'dictation machine as in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an incomplete view of one member of the device att ched topart of the ma chine, showing the manner of adjusting the same toincrease or diminish the strength of the sound.

Fig.4 is a perspective'view of an arm adapted to be attached to thereproducer (or recorder-reproducer) of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the mandrel supported member or ringwhich cooperates with the arm shown in Fig. 4, and is adapted to beattached to the rotating part of the machine. V

Fig. 6 is an end View, partially in cross section, of the dictationmachine, showing a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the members employed in thismodified form.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, enlarged, of one of themembers'of this modified form, arranged to vary the volume of sound. g

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary end View of the dictation machine, showing afurther n odi tied form of the invention attached thereto.

Fig. 10 is a plan View of a reproducer head, showing this modificationapplied thereto.

Fig. 11 is a front View of the reproducerhead and showing the manner ofadjusting the device to vary the volume of sound.

r Fig. 12 is a perspective View of the adjustable element of the formshown in Figs. 9,

10 and 11.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view of an arrangement forproducing signals ata distance, and showing the idea of a, plurality of simultaneouslyproduced signals, and also of signals of different kinds+in this'case,both visible and audible ones, although, of course, either type might beused alone.

1 Similar reference numeralsindicate corresponding parts throughout the.several fig ures of the drawings. p r

' One embodiment of the'invention shown in the drawings includes astriker-ring 10 (Fig. 5) in the form of a split tube, preferably formedof resilient sheet-metal. The tube has a slight taper, substantiallycorresponding to that of the mandrel 11 of a dictation or like machine,so as to frictionallyhold itself to' the mandrel, as shown in Fig. 1, torotate therewith. This action of the ring 10, which is really aclingingaction, is advantageous, since looseness between the ring and" themandreldue to improper fitting of the ringwould cause the volume ofthetick to be reduced,'or would produce a variable and uncertain tickingwhich, of course, is undesirable and might even render the dev1celargely useless. All this is avoidedby hav-' ing the ring held to themandrel by its own spring action. Further, the ring is easily applied tothemandrel and may be slipped off instantly, without employing tools,when the phonograph is wanted for other use.

The sliding movement of the ring 10 on the mandrel is limited, and theoperating position thus determined by an inwardly-bent stop 13 (Figs. 1and 5) provided on the ring alongone]of its edges, which engages the endof the' mandrel; This also prevents the ringfrom being applied with thewrong end to- Ward the mandrel.

' bent'outwardly and formed .by a circumfer ential slit 14* (Fig. 5).The tip of the tongue is slightly bent to provide a nib 15 adapted,

which are disclosed herein. In the forms *The ring 10 has, projectingbeyond the end of the mandrel, a yielding striker-tongue 14,

to strike and brush by a relatively-fixed part,

a such as aisoundrbox or other sound-produce ing'and transmittingmeans,.hereinafter described, to make a succession of'audiblesounds asthe mandrel 1s rotated.

. Thej sound-producing, and transmitting means may be of various forms,several of I shown in Figslto 5,and 9 to 12, it is mounted a yoke atright anglesthereto, in whichiposi tion an end 26 ofthe finger extendsinto the ivention is to be used.

directly uponthe usual sound-box carriage 16 '(Fig. 1), which is placedatthe end ofthe mandrel 11,,where'it is free from the feed the presentinscrew 17 when the device of The sound-producer and transmitter, in theformshown in Figs. 1 to 5, includes a yoke 18secured upon the sound-boxcarriage 16, by. the screws :19: and 20 found on the phonograph, andwhich project'overthe inner periphery of the carriage 16 and retain theusual sound-box 21 therein. Between its ends, the yoke 18 carries afinger 24, integral,

therewith, and bent downwardly from the path of the striker-tongue 14 onthe ring. 10.

rot-ation'of the ring 1.0 '(inxthefdirection of thejarrow, Fig. 2)together with .its striker-.- *tongue 14, causes the nib 15 thereontostrike against the finger 24; This produces a sound which istransmitted through the sound-box carriage, then collected by thediaphragm thereof, and finally, audibly transmitted throughaylistening-tube .16 ,to the person using. the device of the v presentinvention. The sound that is heard is sharp and of'short' duration, andis more accurately defined as a tick, closely resembling the sound' produced by a metronome; This is because the end 26 of the finger 24 andthe nib 15? on the ring 10 rapidly engage "and disengage. 'As

Thus, when the machineis operated, the

soon as the connection between the nib 15 and the end 26 is broken, nofurther audible sound is transmitted, even though the tongue 14 maycontinue to vibrate and the finger 24: is prevented from audiblyvibrating by forming it with a stiflening rib.

In order to vary the volume of the ticking sound, thefinger 24,'with itsyoke 18, may

'be adjustedto and from thefpath of the tongue 14:. This is done byloosening the screws 19 and20 '(Fig. 3) and moving the yoke upon thesound-box carriage, the yoke being provided with notches 22, 23.- Theyoke may move bodily, or it maybe swung about one of the screws 1 920,asshown in Fig. 3, to alter the position of the finger 24.

This last is the preferred method, since oneof the screws may be fairlytight and the V.

machine allowed to operate until the repea-tedcontact of the tongue 14=with the arm- 24 jogs it to the position where the sound best suits thepersonusing the machine. 1 a

The frequency or timing of the ticks or sound may be regulated to-suitthe desired conditions by means of the usual, manuallyoperable speedadjustment 12 (Fig.' 1) of the speed governor, which may be of any -3suitable type, for instance that shown in the patent to Woods#1,186,638, or such as is-now found in commercial talking machines. Thespeed adjustment may be such as to cause the signals to begiven atuniform intervals,

or it, may be arranged to gradually accelerate l or retard the frequencyof the signals in accordance with the will of the operator or a 1predetermined plan. To accomplish the latter automatically, it is merelynecessary to 1 provide a feed-screw or other device for caus "embracesthe carriage and limits any possible movement of the fingerlongitudinally. I

In Figs. 6 and 7, there is illustrated a'modifiedform of sound-producer.This is in the formof an auxiliary sound-box, adapted to be substitutedfor the usual recorder orrea producer head-"the head first being removedfrom the frame in which it is supported upon an annular flange 27,byremoving the holding screws. This auxiliary soundgbox con- 1 sists ofa casing including an uppendisc shaped head 28, having acentrally-flanged,

tubular outlet 29 to which .the listening-tube. 1,257

30 maybe attached. A cone-shaped base31 is secured to .the'headand isprovided with a peripheral flange 32, engaging the inner cylindricalwall of the frame'and resting upon the flange 27 A hardened steel point33 is provided centrally of the conical section and projects intothepathof the spring leaf 14 of the ring 10 (Fig. 6), and which engagesit periodically as the ring is rotated. With this form of the invention,the periodic ticking sound produced upon the hardened steel point isamplified directly within the soundbox and transmitted through thelistening tubes'to the operator.

In Fig. 8, there is illustrated a modification of the form ofsound-producer shown in Figs. 6 and 7, adapted to permit of theadjustment of the point, to increase or diminish the ticking volume. Inthis form, theconical end of the head isprovided interiorly withscrewt-hreads 34, and the hardened steel point is screw-threaded toengage the same, being rounded at its exposed end to engage the springleaf of the ring, and being provided at its inner end with a kerf 36adapted to be engaged by a screw-driver, or the like, in-

serted through the tubular outlet of the head,

to adjust the degree of projection. of the point, and thereby theticking volume.

In Figs. 9 to 12, there is illustrated a further modified form of theinvention The sound-producer consists of a finger 37, arcuate in shapeand adapted to overlie the forward inside quarter of the ,reproducerheadtrame, and'being providedat its inner end with a downwardly-bentfinger 38, disposed at the side of the reproducer-head and tapered to apoint, extending into the path of the spring-leaf 39 of a ring 40 (Fig.This ring is slightly different than the r1ng 10 provided in the otherforms shown in Figs. 1 to 8; for, the spring-tongue or leaf'39 isprovided at the inner 41 at the outer end, while the ring 10 has thetongue 14 at its outer end and the lug 13 near its inner end. j

A pair of holes 42 and 43 (Fig. 12) are provided adjacent the forwardend of the member 16, at either side of an angular bend 4 4, theextremity of the member being secured by a screw 45 extending throughthe hole 42. Aset screw 46 engages the hole 43, preventing angularmovement'ot the member about the screw 45, and putting the member undertension,so that by adjusting the screw 46, the degree of engagement ofthe finger 38 with the spring-leaf 39. may be regulated, and therebytheticking volume increased or d1- minished, as desired. The normalfunction of the screws 45 and 46 is to'attach the pointer or index 47 ofthe reproducer-head.

The invention disclosed herein provides an audible timing device ofextreme simplicity, and one which operates with the greatest iprecision. It is, furthermore, capable of very close adjustments,eitheras to timing or vol ume. The same may be readily attached to, or removedfrom, dictation machines, with outthe necessity of making any changestherein to accommodate it; and it cannot, in

endv and the stop-lug and also the combination of the two. These may-becontrolled at a distance by the attachment to the phonograph, byarranging the ring so that it will close an electric circuit 50 when itengages thebox 31. The circuit 50 has a source of current supply 51, alamp 52, and a solenoid 53 all arranged in series. The solenoid operatesa striker 54 for a bell 55 against the tension of a spring 56 when thecircuit is closed to produce the audible signal. -At the same time, thelamp 52 glows and gives the visible signal. The circuit is 'maintainedclosed for a short interval, because oi the shape and position of theparts, so that the lampmay have time to 7 come to substantially fullbrilliancy for each signal.

The timbre of the audible signal may be varied as desired by making thevarious parts of suitable material.

It should be understood that the present invention may be applied toother forms and types of talking machines and other soundproducing orother movement-impartingmachines, and that portions of the invention maybe used without others. For instance, the ring 10 may be provided as anattachment separate from the means which it engagesto produce thesound,and it may be made of any shape toproduce the results hereindescribed.-

Moreover, attention is invited to the fact that applicant s conceptionis not limited to the specific embodiment hereindisolosed, but may,infact, have a very wide and ever-growing field of use. For instance, inthe field of safety engineering, itis highly desirable to provide anautomatic signal, operating with the movement of a machine which willgive a warning when the operation has progressed toa predetermined partof its cycle. This signal might be a visible onesuch as the movement ofa small, mechanically-opera-ted warningor danger flag, to a position infront of the operators fingers'to warn him, for instance, that themachine is about to close; it might include a double signal, such as atick or a bell; or itmight include a combination oftwo or moredissimilar signals. A visible signal depending uponthe faculty of sight,in combination with'another signal dependinguponthe faculty of hearing,would presumably furnish an added safeguard over either'type of signalused alone. The inventors concept is broadly,'

an incident to the operation of a'machine,

or other movement-imparting device; and

second, to a, Combination of a plurality of,

I difierent .kindsof signals operatedautomatieach other. a 02. Incombination, a rotat1ngrecord-supcally in thisma e Further, the deviceof this invention may be usedas an adjunct ,or auxiliary to ma.-chinesflto be operated manually at predetermined times. In this case,the signals would serve as a guide to the operator to indicate the.tiijnes When the machineshould be op- 3 erated, andpwill tend to keepthe operator working at the required speed,

Variations and modifications may be resorted to Within the. scop'eofthis invention,

and. portions of the improvements may be used without others. f

Having described the nvent on, what s claimed/is:

.1. In combination, a rotating record-sup;

port having-a contact'member, a second contact memberdisposed in thepath of the first contact member,'one of the members being resilient,and means whereby the members producestacc'ato sounds upon contact withport having a contact member, a SBCOIId'COIl'? tact member disposed invthe pathof the first contact member, means whereby thesecond contactmember may bermoved to a greater v or less degree into thepath of thefirst con tact member, and means for fixing the second member. in suchadjusted'position.

3. In combination, a rotating record-supponting mandrel, and means,adapted to be 7 timingsignals.

removably mounted upon themandrel inter-V changeably with a recordtiming-signals.

to produce periodic 45. In combination, a rotating mandrel,

' spring. sleevemounted upon the'mandrel, Sl311k815135182fl'18, carriedby the. sleeve, and

means adapted to bee intermittentlystruck by the strikermeans to produce7 audible 5.. Incombination, a rotating mandrel, a

-' split resilient sleeve. slidably mounted upon the mandrel, anintegral arm bent therefrom and adaptedto, abut with the end of themandrel tolimit the sliding movement of the sleeveonthe mandrel, aprojecting spring 7 leaf bent from the sleeve, and means adapted to beintermittently engaged by the spring leafto produce-periodictiming-signals.

- 6.. In; combination, a rotating member, a

soundbox, a sound-box having .a diaphragm support, means for retainingthe sound box in thesupp'ort, and a member unconnected with saiddiaphragm and secured in vi ration-transmitting relation. to thesound-box by thegsound-box retaining means, themember beingadapted tobeintermittently engagedby-therotating member toproduceperiodic audible{timing-signals.

7.- ;Inv combination, a rotating 7 member, a i sound-boxhaving, avibration responsive member, a'contaet member hav ng means distherotation thereof.

posed in the path of said rotatingmember to be intermittently engagedthereby .to pro:

duce audible,- timing-signals, means for mounting said contact member injspaced relation, to said vibration responsive member,

said last means being adapted to @permit ad-j justment of said contactmember toregulate its engagement with the rotating member and to preventaccidental displacement thereof, 8. In combination, aflrotatingrecord-support, a sound-box: for reproducing sound record-edona.recordadapted' to bemounted l on the record-supportfand. a .timin -mechanismincludingm'eans on. the recor support and means on the sound-box adaptedto contact-and produce an audible signal.

9; In combination, a rotating record-sup port, a {sound-boa 'forreproducing sound recorded on 'a record adapted to be mounted ontherecord support, timingemechanismjininterval between signals. r

10 In combination, a :rotatingrecordsup port, a stationary member,'.'anda timingmechanism includmg a'member mounted on the stationary memberandzanother member removably mounted on the rotating record.-

support adapted to contact with the member on the stationarymembertomake an audible sound as the record-support rotates; 11. Asa newarticle of manufacture, a. de-

vice for attachment to a rotating record sup port of a phonograph tointermittently pro duce ticking sounds as an'incident to its:ro tatlon.J I p 'f I I 12. as a new article of manufacture, ade

vice. for attachment to a rotating record-supv port of a phonograph,including a striker adapted to produce a; sound when the recordsupportrotates. 1

g 13. Asa new article of manufacture, an attachment for'phonographsadapted to be at taclied toth-e rotating member thereofhaving means forcausing short, sharp individually audible sounds to' jbe produced insuecession at regular intervals as incident to 14. .As a new article ofmanufacture, an at tachment for phonographshaving. a' rotating member,said attachment being adapted to frictionally and detachably engage therotating member therefor and havinguneans for causing signals to beproduced as an incident to the rotation of the rotating member.

15. In combination, a continuously driven record=support, and .meanscomprising a member ,co-operating therewith to- @simultae neouslyproduce periodic audible and visible timingssignals as a resultofigs-uch co-opera- .tion.

record-support, and means comprising a, member (Jo-operating therewithto produce at a distance, periodic separately perceptible timing-signalsas a result of such co-operation.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, this l lth day of August, A. D. 1923.

CHARLES K. WOODBRIDGE.

r H MH MW r,

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,781,041. Granted November 11, 1930, to

CHARLES K. WOODBRIDGE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4,line 54, claim 6, strike out the words "soundbox, a sound-box having adiaphragm" and insert instead "sound-box having a diaphragm asound-box"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with thiscorrection therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of January, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

